Alexander staying grounded

Graham Alexander admits he will strive to keep his Fleetwood players' feet firmly on the ground following their impressive start.

The Cod Army are the only side in League One to have a 100 per cent record after three games of the season, with the form that carried them to a League Two play-off final win at Wembley in May continuing at the next level. There may have been six promotions in 10 seasons at Highbury but few expected Alexander's team to be setting the pace in their debut campaign in the third tier. Alexander is pragmatic about these early stages, though, and knows there is still an awfully long way to go. Nevertheless, he believes his players' current form epitomises the good feeling in the dressing room. "We had to take what we did last season into this season - as in confidence and how we played," he said. "The players believed in how good they could be and how good they are, and results have backed that up. The players get strength from extra confidence and they've started the season really well. "After every game we have to make sure that we resettle the boys, go again and make sure we work as hard as we always have done. "What you've done in the past doesn't win you games. We have to make sure we know what we're doing to win games; if we keep doing that, we'll be okay." And Alexander revealed he wants to maintain a level of calmness on the Fylde coast, no matter what the result. "It's about keeping that balance between not getting too ahead of yourselves and not getting too down when you have a defeat," the former Burnley and Preston defender added. "It's believing in the work that you do, how you play and your team-mates. We didn't go away from our beliefs last year when we hit rough patches and it came good in the end. "There will be times this season when we have dips and lose the odd game or so but it's about keeping that belief and strength of character to get your rewards. It's a good start to a long season and we're looking to maintain that." Fleetwood are perched at the division's summit mainly because of their defensive record, which has seen them concede just once. That has been achieved without the injured Mark Roberts, who captained them to Wembley glory, while his central-defensive partner Nathan Pond was also missing in midweek. "The players that have come in know how we want to do it and how we want to defend," Alexander said of the likes of Liam Hogan. "They've equipped themselves really well. You have to be ready to adapt and roll with the punches because footballers can drop out at any minute. But those who've come in to the team like Stephen Crainey - who has only played two games - have slotted in really well. "What it does do is add competition when others come fit and they know those who have stepped in have done well. It's a healthy position to be in when we get everyone fit."